File (tool)

A file is a hand tool consisting of a steel shaft whose surface is cut with sharp parallel ridges made by a chisel before the file is hardened. It is used to smooth or cut materials by abrasion. The tool is usually fitted in a handle.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Files are classified according to several attributes. One is the cross-section of the shaft, which may be flat, round, half-round, square or triangular. Another is the size of the ridges, which can range from rough, coarse and bastard (meaning intermediate) to second-cut, smooth and dead smooth. A single-cut or mill file has one set of parallel ridges, while a cross-cut or double-cut file has a second set at an angle to the first. In Swiss-pattern files the teeth are cut at a shallower angle.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rasp is a related, but different, hand tool that has sharp bumps on its surface rather than straight ridges.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hand tool: A hand tool is a device for doing a particular job that does not use a motor, but is powered solely by the person using it. Examples are almost endless, from general tools like the hammer to specific tools like calipers....

Steel: :See Steel (disambiguation) for other uses....

Chisel: A chisel is a tool for carving and/or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, or metal. A chisel, typically made of hardened or tempered steel, or more rarely, common steel, consists of a sharpened end (called the blade) attached to a straight handle. The handle and blade of some types of chis...

File (tool) related Images and Photos (experimental)

Tool	Tool	Tool - Gray Tool Man	Ipcress File
Tool - Spectre Spiral	Hoodie: Tool - Never Ending	Tool Logic Ice Lite II	Tool Logic LED Tech Light
Tool Logic Office Assistant	Botanical File Folders	VIERA FL - FILE: Elijah Dukes	File of the Golden Goose, The